In 1989/90 CARDI set a target of increasing yields from 7,000 kg/ha to 12,000kg/ha over a 5-year period, with a combination of improved seed quality, plant nutrition, spacing, pest and disease control and post harvest handling.

A number of trials have been carried out on the development of a production system for hot pepper. Some of these have been evaluated using the CARDI selections of 'Scotch Bonnet.' The most complete work was a trial (0.1 ha) with Red Scotch Bonnet carried out in Antigua in 1990 using the best estimate of an improved package of technologies (CARDI 1990). A yield equivalent of 20 t/ha was obtained. This trial benefited from irrigation (April and June) and it is unlikely that this could be a widespread technology for most small farmers in the Eastern Caribbean.

The guide (Cooper et al 1993) for production of 'West Indian Red' and 'West Indian Yellow' provide a good reference point from which to start defining a production system that would enable farmers to achieve the target of 12 t/ha.

In a report specifically written for the Jamaican Agricultural Development Foundation (JADF), there are many hints and suggestions that the average farmer, as well as the part-time gardener, might find interesting and helpful (JADF 1999). See also Red Savina Chile Peppers and Hot Sauce.

Acknowlegment
Thanks are due to Dave Anderson of the Tough Love Chile Co. for permission to use the pictures above.

Based on work carried out in Barbados, a report is given in the CARDI Barbados Annual Technical Report on validated trial in which the main conclusions were:

Yields and yield components

• The data suggested that yield of ripe hot pepper berries steadily increased with the increase in plant population density. The limit was not reached in this trial and further work with higher densities over 19000 plants per hectare was indicated.

• The data showed that yields from the highest plant population densities were superior to those from the widely spaced plants up to the second picking; from then onwards, the differences in yield tended to diminish.

• The task therefore was to prolong the time when significant differences between the treatments would persist and continue for as many pickings as possible. This should be possible through higher levels of management and crop environment control.

• The number of hot pepper berries harvested per plant showed a decrease with the increase in plant population densities. The number of berries per plant also decreased with the age of the crop. Judging from the opposite trend in yield per plot, the higher number of plants at higher population densities more than compensated for the decrease of yield per plant.

• Fruit weight, length and width were not affected by changes in the distances between plants. Fruit sizes, however very gradually decreased, as the crop grew older.